# US 5,704,787 A · Hardened ultrasonic dental surgical tips and process

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- Number: US 5,704,787 A
- Document ID: US5704787A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/546,336
- Filed: 1995-10-20
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1995-10-20
- Assignees: San Diego Swiss Machining, Inc.
- Inventors: Teresa R. Hickok; Claude E. Martin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704787A

## CPC

- A61C 3/03: Instruments operated by vibration
- A61C 17/20: using ultrasonic waves
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)

## Abstract

An ultrasonic dental tip that is hardened by a novel process that includes roughing the tip and then applying a metal nitride coating, such as titanium nitride (Ti--N) or zirconium nitride (Zr--N). The roughing is preferably accomplished by sandblasting the tip with a microblaster. Optionally the tip may be heat treated after it has been roughened and prior to being coated in order to further increase its hardness.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical tip for use with an ultrasonic device, the tip comprising:
a substantially elongate instrument having first and second opposite ends, the second end having an outer surface, wherein the first end has coupling means for coupling to an ultrasonic device; and
the outer surface of the second end being a cutting surface defined by multiple indentations formed in the outer surface and having a coating of a metal nitride applied over the cutting surface to maintain its cutting character.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tip of claim 1, wherein the multiple indentations are made by a sandblasting process.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tip of claim 2, wherein the sandblasting process is accomplished with a microblaster employing powder having the abrasive characteristic of about 400 grit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tip of claim 1, wherein the metal nitride coat applied to the outer surface has an average thickness of about 0.0002 inches.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tip of claim 1, wherein the metal member of the metal nitride is selected from the group consisting of Titanium (Ti) and Zirconium (Zr).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tip of claim 1, wherein the metal nitride is Titanium nitride (Ti--N).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The tip of claim 6, wherein the outer surface of the tip has a surface hardness of about 2800 Vickers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tip of claim 1, wherein the metal nitride is Zirconium nitride (Zr--N).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The tip of claim 8, wherein the outer surface of the tip has a surface hardness of about 3000 Vickers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The tip of claim 1, wherein the instrument is composed of stainless steel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The tip of claim 10, wherein the instrument is heat treated to about 40-42 Rockwell-C hardness prior to applying the metal nitride coating.

### Claim 12

A method for hardening surgical tips having an outside surface and adapted for use with ultrasonic devices, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a cutting surface by roughing the outside surface of the tip by forming multiple minute depressions in the surface with an externally applied abrasive process; and
applying a coating of a metal nitride over the roughened cutting surface to maintain the cutting surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the externally applied abrasive process used for roughing the outer surface is a sandblasting process.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the sandblasting process is accomplished with a microblaster employing powder having the abrasive characteristic of about 400 grit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the metal nitride coat applied to the outer surface has an average thickness of about 0.0002 inches.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the metal member of the metal nitride is selected from the group consisting of Titanium (Ti) and Zirconium (Zr).

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the metal nitride is Titanium nitride (Ti--N).

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the outer surface of the method has a surface hardness of about 2800 Vickers.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the metal nitride is Zirconium nitride (Zr--N).

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the outer surface of the method has a surface hardness of about 3000 Vickers.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the instrument is composed of stainless steel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the instrument is heat treated to about 40-42 Rockwell-C hardness prior to applying the metal nitride coating.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the heat treating is performed by subjecting the method to about 900.degree. F. temperatures for about two hours.